ok ... here's a bet ... will the update on Lotus actually work??? or will we hear another list of excuses from parmane and boulier.

I'm sick and tired of them trying stupid tests with kimi ... give the testing to RoGro, let kimi concentrate of high fuel and setup runs. in japanese gp, it showed his lack of high fuel running was costing him speed and eventually lost 5th place to hamilton.

Above his average, but still typical Tilke stuff... Straight, hairpin, straight, hairpin, straight, hairpin, slow elbow to the left, slow elbow to the right and only then does it become interesting, but still with slow corners here and there. If Suzuka is anything to go by, it should be Red Bull, McLaren (if they stop shooting their own feet in all possible sorts) and then a huge battle for the rest. Perfect for Vettel.

they say here that they make losses form hosting the grand prix but they say its worthwhile . and that the 1988 olympic games in seol lost money as well

but hosting olympics once and hosting GP yearly is two different thing. 20 milliion per race is huge, and also this track is hardly used as far as i know. i actually like this Tilke track design (except the first corner, why not hairpin for overtaking). also korea has Auto-industry, so a race is logical than say at a place like Hungary.

So, will they have done any more work to finish off the track since last year?

And will there be any spectators?

There will be at least one! A week ago I was looking up sports bars in Hong Kong where I could watch the race, now on an impulse buy I'm actually going there. I have only been to one other race before and that was Silverstone in 2008; as a Hamilton fan it quite simply could not have got any better for my first race. Desperately hoping I'm a good luck charm. Vettel and Alonso to get lost on the way to the circuit?

I hope you have a great time, I suspect there won't be much crowding so you should get a good view!

It would be interesting to hear your comments after the race.

Thanks, I will definitely report back with my findings. There really isn't much information about the Korean GP which I imagine is one of the reasons it's so poorly attended. The grandstand I'm in (G) was recommended to me by Ravenak, another poster on this forum who will also be there at Yeongam, so at least I know I won't be standing alone in an empty grandstand!

There will be at least one! A week ago I was looking up sports bars in Hong Kong where I could watch the race, now on an impulse buy I'm actually going there. I have only been to one other race before and that was Silverstone in 2008; as a Hamilton fan it quite simply could not have got any better for my first race. Desperately hoping I'm a good luck charm. Vettel and Alonso to get lost on the way to the circuit?

Wow good luck and enjoy! If Lewis wins 2008 Silverstone style we will need to organise a whip round and get you out to all of the remaining races

I think the Korean race does get a decent amount of spectators, they're improving the travel links too. The race track itself is also pretty good. South Korea is a very good market for F1, but they've really cocked it up in so many ways. I have no idea what the hell the track is doing so far away from Seoul and in the middle of nowhere. Probably one of the most annoyingly managed F1 races considering the potential that South Korea has.

I think they were banking too much on the idea of a city being build around the race track, the plan was rather ambitious...not to say it still won't happen, I guess the downturn just hit everything badly.

Wow good luck and enjoy! If Lewis wins 2008 Silverstone style we will need to organise a whip round and get you out to all of the remaining races

Regards Mike

It's a tough life being a lucky charm eh? I really hope I get to hold you to this. I think Red Bull's dominance in Suzuka was exaggerated given Button was only four tenths off Vettel in qualifying. Vettel has already talked about absolutely nailing the setup and we know Hamilton usually has a couple of tenths over Button. The Button penalty and particularly the Hamilton setup fiasco made it look far worse than it was. I see qualifying being back to Singapore spec; i.e. Hamilton and Vettel nip and tuck with the driver who delivers most on that last lap in Q3 getting it. Shame about Red Bull's DDRS being fitted just in time for one of the longest straights in F1 but oh well, must be positive.

they say here that they make losses form hosting the grand prix but they say its worthwhile . and that the 1988 olympic games in seol lost money as well

Not surprising... Olympic games usually lost money but their "added" value is in the development of areas where the olympic facilites are built, and the use of the same afterwards (no wonder Greece...)

Back to the topic, I am surprised they were not stripped from the race after last year. The teams mentioned that the first thing they had to do upon arrival was to clean the fridges, taking out the leftovers that they left there a year ago...

I stand by what I said before the first race, this circuit is just too squiggly. There's no real flow to it, just one long straight followed by endless back and forth turns. Not Tilke's finest hour.

So, will they have done any more work to finish off the track since last year?

Probably not, and if this really is the last race here I'm guessing they never will do. That whole city plan was ridiculously optimistic, even if it was planned before the current downturn. I'm hoping the pictures don't still show it as a muddy wasteland.

Thanks, I will definitely report back with my findings. There really isn't much information about the Korean GP which I imagine is one of the reasons it's so poorly attended. The grandstand I'm in (G) was recommended to me by Ravenak, another poster on this forum who will also be there at Yeongam, so at least I know I won't be standing alone in an empty grandstand!

Have fun you two. Btw, have you considered Abu Dhabi too, because they need a crowd!

Probably not, and if this really is the last race here I'm guessing they never will do. That whole city plan was ridiculously optimistic, even if it was planned before the current downturn. I'm hoping the pictures don't still show it as a muddy wasteland.

Actually, I hope it looks worse than last year. At least it gave the race, and the track some unique character. Which many new tracks lacks! Have to try to look at everything on a positive way!

I stand by what I said before the first race, this circuit is just too squiggly. There's no real flow to it, just one long straight followed by endless back and forth turns. Not Tilke's finest hour.

That's my main problem with the track. All the straights are on one side and all the flowing corners are on the other. There's no straight to speak of after T4. I think it's partly down to the strange idea idea of having two pitlanes for the different layouts. I don't think there would be an easy fix though. Just dig it all up and build a new one.

That's my main problem with the track. All the straights are on one side and all the flowing corners are on the other. There's no straight to speak of after T4. I think it's partly down to the strange idea idea of having two pitlanes for the different layouts. I don't think there would be an easy fix though. Just dig it all up and build a new one.

no it's part of the strange idea to have a permanent track (the twisty bits) and a monaco type urban development which would become a temporary track for the GP weekend (the straights)